Police violence against protesters by authorities` order - Arman  Tatoyan

ArmInfo. The incidents of violence that occurred on June 12 in front of the parliament building at the Baghramyan-Demirchyan intersection and the use of special  means by the police against the participants of the meeting were  carried out in gross violation of the law. This was stated by the  former Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan.

The human rights activist noted that before using special means, the  police were obliged to provide constant and correct information,  indicate the grounds for their use, etc.

"It was necessary to identify and isolate the provocateurs. Instead,  1-2 hours before the use of special means, only 1-2 announcements  were made with a warning to remove women. This is unacceptable.

Tear gas grenades and other similar devices, given their nature and  the harm they cause to humans, are subject to such strict  requirements that they must be used in accordance with lethal force  standards. Group and individual beating of meeting participants by  police officers entails criminal liability.

It was clear that police actions had become more radical on June 12,  when the head of government made political statements in support of  police actions, including those subject to criminal penalties. The  Speaker of the National Assembly immediately considered the use of  sound grenades "fair," which he had no right to do. These statements  are nothing more than a political signal to law enforcement officers  to "act freely" in terms of violence and the use of special means  against demonstrators, a signal of impunity," Tatoyan is sure.

According to him, these actions led to casualties among both  demonstrators and police.

"In other words, there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship  between the statements of the political authorities sponsoring the  actions of the Police and the offenses of the Police, including  actions entailing criminal punishment. This is evidenced by the fact  that so far not a single "Red Beret" or other the policeman was not  prosecuted or even prosecuted for violence or torture. And this is  the political force that speaks day and night about ending police  violence and especially impunity," Tatoyan concluded.

On June 12, the police used disproportionate, unprovoked force  against peaceful demonstrators near the government building. Stun  grenades and other special weapons were used. More than 100 people  were injured, according to official figures.

According to available data, as a result of the use of special  equipment, about 10 media representatives were injured and editorial  equipment was damaged. Footage has circulated in the media indicating  a targeted strike of stun grenades in the direction of journalists  and cameramen working at the protest site.  Moreover, there is a lot  of footage on the World Wide Web of several dozen police officers in  a crowd severely beating a demonstrator who is trying to protect his  head and face with his hands. The head of the Armenian police  justified these actions of the police, assuring that the protesters  did not obey the legal demands of law enforcement officers. But video  footage of the incidents indicates the opposite.

Human rights organizations and foreign diplomatic missions, which so  zealously defended human rights in our country until 2018, remain  deathly silent.